Frequently Asked Questions

Seasonal Hours:

Our location:

We are located three miles south of mount ida, Arkansas off highway 27 south. turn east on owley road and go two miles. Just follow our signs!

If coming from Hot Springs, Arkansas we are a leisurely 45 minute drive from hot springs on highway 270 west through the beautiful national forest. Warning: Stay on highway 270 all the way into mount ida. Then take highway 27 south and follow the signs.

How to sign up for wholesale:

For wholesale customers, please register your business information and tax identification number issued by your state with us here. Otherwise, please give us a call at (800) 367-9888 and one of our staff members will walk you through the process.

Mine Tour Times:

Trips to our Crystal Forest Mine leave every day at 9:30, 11:30, and 1:30. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to sign up and have a safety meeting.

Differences between the tailings and the mine:

Our Tailings Pile is a large open area where we bring blasted soil and material from the mine sites and deposit it. We maintain this area regularly by tilling the soil and adding new frequently blasted material weekly to bi-weekly.

Our Mine sites are 40+ acres comprised of large open pits that have exposed sandstone rock walls with quartz veins. During your time at the mine you are able to dig in the exposed veins and open surface areas that are not marked off from the public.

Camping:

For more information:

R.V. Accessibility:

We have large truck, motorhome, and tour bus parking available by our shop.

Can you drive your vehicle to the mine site:

You cannot drive your vehicle to the mine sites, however you can drive to our Tailings Pile and Gemstone Sluice activity options. Transportation to the Crystal Forest Mine leaves at 9:30, 11:30, and 1:30 daily. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early for mine trips so there is time to sign up, load gear, and have a safety meeting.

Are we pet friendly:

All furry friends are welcome here! If your dog/cat/other is not socialized, please keep them on a leash. We have 3-5 dogs here daily from the owner and employees. This is their home so please be respectful. Make sure and bring a water bowl for your animal.

Where you can wash your crystals:

We do not have a washing station for you to clean your crystals here. We recommend taking them to a car wash and hitting them with the pressurized sprayer, or taking them home and using hot soapy water and an old toothbrush. To remove the orange tint caused by iron deposits in the soil, we sell oxalic acid ($3.00) to soak your crystals after cleaning.